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THOMAS 
MACDONOUGH 




An address, delivered before the 

Vermont Historical Society, 

October 27, 1904, in the 

Hall of the House of 

Representatives 

Montpelier, 

Vermont 



By Hon. Charles H. Darling, 
Assistant Secretary of the U. S. Navy 



THOMAS MACDONOUGH. 



AN ADDRESS, DELIVERED BEFORE THE VER- 
MONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, OCTOBER 27, 
1904, IN THE HALL OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES, BY HON. 
CHARLES H. DARLING, ASSIST- 
ANT SECRETARY OF 
THE U. S. NAVY. 



i 



COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. 

Mr. President, Members of the Vermont Historical Society, 
Ladies and Gentlemen: 

Mr. Roosevelt in his Naval War of 1812 says of Com- 
modore Macdonough : "Down to the time of the Civil War, 
he vi^as the greatest figure in our naval history." The life 
of a naval ofificer is consumed largely in preparation and 
waiting. If his opportunity never comes he passes through 
his several grades of promotion and is retired with little 
reward save the full consciousness of duties well done. If 
perchance fortune brings the supreme moment and his name 
is enrolled among the immortals his title to that fame often 
flows from capricious sources. It may follow from a ca- 
reer long and varied, it may depend upon a single conflict, 
or it may be traced to a conspicuous incident of battle, 
Paul Jones's retort, "We have just begun to fight," Law- 
rence's "Don't give up th,e ship," and Perry's message, "We 
have met the enemy and they are ours," are known around 
the world. 

Macdonough lived in a romantic age of our naval his- 
tory. He was the contemporary of Hull, Decatur, Law- 
rence, Porter, Stewart and others. The lives of many of 
these have been written, their records preserved, their mem- 
ory duly honored ; but who was this Macdonough, who, 
down to the time of the Civil War, was the greatest figure 
of them all? Lake Champlain is a small inland body of 
water and the general reader can hardly conceive that it 
was the scene of a great naval conflict, and for Macdon- 



4 THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

ough, except in connection with this battle, you may search 
the pages of history almost in vain. 

His memory will always be closely associated with the 
history of this State, and it is but due to this Society that 
its records should bear a brief memorial of this remarkable 
man. 

His family, as the name indicates, was of Scotch origin, 
but owing to the disturbed condition of that country, emi- 
grated to Ireland. His grandfather, James JMacdonough, 
came to America about 1730 and settled at New Castle, 
Delaware, at a place known as "The Trappe." He continued 
to reside there until his death in 1792. Thomas Macdon- 
ough, Sr.,, the father of the Commodore, was born there 
in 1747, and there he studied and practiced medicine until 
the opening of the Revolution. In March, 1776, he re- 
ceived a major's commission from the Continental Congress 
and joined the Colonial forces. His first engagement was 
in the battle of Long Island, in which he was wounded, and 
for gallant conduct in this action received the thanks of 
Washington. Subsequently he was in the battles of White 
Plains, Trenton and Princeton. In 1782 he was made col- 
onel of the Seventh Regiment of the Delaware militia. In 
1788 he was appomted a justice of the Court of Common 
Pleas and Orphan's Court and was reappointed in 1791, and 
again in 1793. He died in 1795 at the age of 48 years. 

Thomas Macdonough, Jr., the Commodore, was born 
at the Trappe, on December 31, 1783. 

The Trappe is hardly a village or even a hamlet. It 
consists of a cross-roads with an aggregate of four houses, 
and was dignified in 1844 by the Postoffice Denartment with 
the name of McDonough. in honor of the Commodore. In 



COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. 5 

this case the name is spelled ]\IcDonough, as it was some- 
times used by the Commodore, but he generally spelled it 
Macdonough and this is now the accepted spelling. 

Thomas Macdonough was one of four brothers, the 
oldest of whom served in the navy of the United States and 
lost a leg in the battle between the Constellation and 
L'Insurgente on February i8, 1799. Thomas's early life was 
passed on' the farm at The Trappe, and he enjoyed the usual 
experiences of farmer and country boys. His early educa- 
tion must have been limited and perhaps neglected, for we 
find him serving an apprenticeship as a clerk in a store at 
the little cross-roads town of Middletown, in the State of 
Delaware, at the age of sixteen, when on the fifth day of 
February, 1800, he was appointed a midshipman in the navy 
by President John Adams. 

]\Iidshipman Macdonough was assigned to the United 
States ship Ganges at New Castle, Delaware, which set sail 
for the \\'est Indies against the French who were then at 
war on the sea with the United States. His first voyage was 
an unhappy one. The Ganges cruised for a time in the 
West Indies and captured two Guineamen and a French pri- 
vateer. The man-of-war at that time, unlike the warship 
of the present day, was not equipped with ice-plants, distil- 
ling apparatus and laundries, and the yellow fever broke out 
on board and many died. Young Macdonough caught the 
disease and was sent ashore at Havana. After remaining 
in a Spanish hospital for some time, he set sail in an Ameri- 
can merchant vessel for the United States, but ofif the capes 
of Delaware the merchantman was captured by an English 
war vessel on account of having Spanish property on board. 
Macdonough was subsequently put on shore at Norfolk, 



6 THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Virginia, destitute and almost without clothing, and in this 
dilemma made his way home, having been absent about one 
year, during which time his illness with yellow fever had 
been reported, and his family understood that he was dead. 

On October 20, 1801, he joined the Constitution and 
sailed for the Mediterranean, returning in May, 1803. On 
the 24th of that month he was ordered to the ship Philadel- 
phia, then fitting out, and again sailed for the Mediterran- 
ean. The Barbary States, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunis 
and Tripoli, were at that time sending out pirates to prey 
upon the commerce of the world, and were exacting tribute 
from every nation that sent its ships into the Mediterranean. 
England had looked with disfavor upon the growing com- 
merce of the United States and was paying extra tribute to 
Tripoli to encourage the pirate trade and for the purpose 
of destroying American commerce. The United States hav- 
ing declared war against Tripoli, a squadron was maintained 
in the Mediterranean, first under Commodore Richard Dale, 
afterward under Commodores Richard V. Morris, Edward 
Preble and Charles Stewart. Th^ Philadelphia, commanded 
by Captain Bainbridge, was sent to join this squadron. 

The Philadelphia falling in with a pirate vessel from 
Morocco, the Mirhoka, twenty-two guns, captured her with- 
out resistance and Macdonough was placed on board with a 
prize crew to take her to Gibraltar. The brig turned out to 
be the Celia of Boston which had been captured but a short 
time before and it was found that the captain carried an order 
from the governor of Tangier to capture Americans. Mac- 
donough was left at Gibraltar with, the Mirhoka while the 
Philadelphia went for a cruise ofif Tripoli. Meanwhile 
Commodore Preble arrived at Gibraltar and arrangements 



COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. 7 

were made for the return of the Mirhoka to the Emperor of 
Morocco, after wliich Macdonough joined the ship of Com- 
modore Preble intending to continue as a passenger until 
they met the Philadelphia, (a) They fell in with a British 
frigate from which they learned that the Philadelphia had 
run upon a reef off Tripoli and been captured with all on 
board and towed into the harbor. The officers and men were 
kept in close confinement for over a year and a half and 
while thus a prisoner Capt. Bainbridge sent a communica- 
tion to Commodore Preble advising him that he might enter 
the harbor in a small vessel and seize and destroy the Phila- 
delphia. 

Macdonough meanwhile had been transferred to the En- 
terprise, commanded by Lieut. Stephen Decatur. Upon hear- 
ing of the plan to destroy the Philadelphia, Decatur at once 
volunteered for the expedition. In November, 1804, the En- 
terprise had captured a small ketch known as the Mastico, 
on which were some Greeks. Turks and Tripolitans, among 
whom were officers and soldiers and a number of slaves. 
This ketch was selected for the expedition and renamed the 
Intrepid. Decatur was assigned to her command and Com- 
modore Stewart directed that five midshipmen be taken from 
the Constitiition and the balance of the officers and men 
from the Enterprise. On February 4, 1804, Decatur 
mustered the crew of the Enterprise and, after com- 
municating to them the task he was to undertake, asked for 
volunteers. As has often been the case in the American 
navy in enterprises of great danger, officers and crew came 

(a) In some histories, as in the Vermont Governor and 
Council, it is erroneously stated that Macdonough was on the 
Philadelphia when she was captured. 



8 THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

forward in a body. Decatur selected from the Enterprise 
his Heutenants, James Lawrence, Joseph Bainbridge and 
Jonathan Thorne, his surgeon, Lewis Heermann, and his 
favorite midshipman, Thomas Macdonough. Sixty of the 
crew were chosen and the party went on board the Intrepid. 
A pilot acquainted with the harbor of Tripoli, whose name, 
Decatur says, was Salvador Catalano, was sent from, the 
Constitution, and Midshipman Anderson -from the Siren, 
making in all seventy-one. Little time was allowed for prep- 
aration, and an hour after receiving notice, the little band set 
sail, accompanied by the Siren under Lieutenant Stewart 
which was to assist the ketch and in case of her destruction, 
which was considered probable, rescue her crew. Combus- 
tibles for destroying ships and two or three weeks' provisions 
were carried. 

Tripoli was sighted February 7, and to avoid suspicion 
the Intrepid anchored after dark about a mile westward of 
the town. A strong -gale was blowing and the pilot and 
most of the officers deeming the entrance unsafe in the face 
of the storm, the vessel soon weighed anchor and stood out 
to sea. When the gale subsided a successful attempt was 
made to enter the harbor. The Siren's character as a war 
vessel was concealed and she stood outside during the day, 
while the Intrepid, with a part of her crew below and the rest 
disguised as Maltese, maintained the appearance of being 
anxious to enter the harbor before nightfall. As darkness 
advanced the Intrepid was within three miles of the eastern 
entrance of the harbor, with the Siren three miles astern. 
The wind grew lighter and Decatur abandoned the plan of 
waiting for the Siren and gave orders to proceed, saying 
"the fewer the number the greater the honor." The plan of 



COMMODORE MACDONODGH. 9 

seizing the Philadelphia was agreed upon in detail and the 
officers and men assigned to divisions for the purpose of 
carrying it out, the watchword "Philadelphia" was agreed 
upon and the ketch entered the harbor in silence. A light 
wind wafted the Intrepid up the bay, the young moon lighted 
up the water and made the concealment of the officers neces- 
sary. Now the first battery was passed and the Intrepid 
neared the Philadelphia. The enemy hailed the Intrepid, 
whose pilot, previously instructed, replied that they had 
lost their anchors in the gale and a.sked permission to run 
a rope to the frigate and ride by until anchors could be se- 
cured from the shore. The Tripolitans then asked what 
brig was in the offing, for notwithstanding their precautions, 
the Siren had been seen. The pilot with great tact replied 
that it was the Transfer, a former British man-of-war which 
had been purchased by the Tripolitans at Malta, the arrival 
of which was anxiously expected. 

As the Intrepid was closing in on the frigate, the wind 
shifted and left her about twenty yards away. 

This was a moment of great anxiety. The Intrepid, 
motionless and powerless except by movements which would 
betray her character, was directly under the guns of the 
Philadelphia. A boat from the Intrepid took a rope and 
made it fast to the chains of the Philadelphia, wdiile a boat 
from the Philadelphia brought a rope from that ship and 
passed it to the Intrepid; the crew hauled on the lines, and 
the Intrepid was drawn gradually to the Philadelphia. When 
nearly in contact, the suspicions of the enemy were aroused 
and the cry of "Americanos" resounded through the ship. 
The Litre p id was ordered off, but in a moment more she 
closed with the Philadelphia, and Decatur gave the order to 



10 THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

board. There was no time for preparation on the part of 
the enemy and they scarcely made a show of resistance. 
Crowded together and trampling upon each other in disorder 
the Tripolitans were either cut down or driven overboard. 

The American officers and men now separated in sev- 
eral parties and seized the respective parts of the ship as had 
previously been agreed upon, Midshipmen Macdonough and 
Laws seizing the berth-deck and forward store-room. Five 
minutes sufficed to clear the ship of the enemy, and Decatur 
was in full possession, destined to be her last, as his father 
had been her first, commander. In less than twenty minutes 
the combustibles had been distributed and set on fire, and the 
party was again on board the Intrepid. Those detailed to 
fire the ship were driven from below by the smoke, and soon 
the crackling of the flames gave indication that the destroy- 
ing element had in turn assumed the mastery of the vessel. 

The spectacle was weird and magnificent. The fire 
issued from the ports and mounted the hatchways and the 
whole ship was soon enveloped in flames, lighting up the city 
and surrounding shipping. The brilliant illumination, its 
reflection upon the water, the overhanging cloud of smoke, 
the lurid glare reflected over the quaint old city and the dark 
shadows which formed the background completed a picture 
of thrilling grandeur. As the loaded guns of the Philadel- 
pJiia became heated they were discharged and mingled their 
roar with that of the flames above. Those manning the 
shore batteries were dazed at first but soon recovered and 
the fire of cannon became general. In the midst of this 
scene the crew of the Intrepid gave three cheers and com- 
menced their retreat. The enemy's marksmanship was 
bad and the crew of the Intrepid were in more danger 



COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. 11 

from the guns of the burning Philadelphia than from those 
of the shore batteries, and although under the fire of a hun- 
dred guns for nearly half an hour she was struck by only a 
single shot passing through the top-gallant sail. The crew 
made use of sweeps and favored by a light breeze were soon 
out of danger. The scene was consummated by a terrific 
explosion which announced that the flames had reached 
the magazine of the Philadelphia. She sank close to the 
shore where she drifted after the melting of her chains. 
At the entrance of the harbor the ketch was met by the 
Siren and the two crews joined in general rejoicing at the 
success of the expedition. 

This act has always been deemed one of the most bril- 
liant and thrilling in the history of the navy, and down to 
the time of the Civil War it had no equal. Nelson was in 
command of the British fleet blockading Toulon at the time 
and when the news of the achievement reached him he pro- 
nounced it "the most bold and daring act of the age." 

Congress gave a sword to Decatur and the other offi- 
cers were suitably rewarded. Nearly all of these young 
officers became distinguished in our subsequent naval his- 
tory. 

Macdonough's life from the war with Tripoli to the 
autumn of 1812, when he took command of the boats on 
Lake Champlain, was that of a regular naval officer and 
sailor. During the administration of Jefferson the navy had 
been suffered to languish, and like many other officers he 
had been furloughed and joined the merchant service. 

On his return to the United States from Tripoli in 1806 
he was detached from the Siren and ordered to Middle- 
town, Connecticut, under command of Captain Hull, and 



12 THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

later to the Wasp, in which h^e made a trip to England and 
France, returning by way of the Mediterranean. When the 
Wasp again reached the United States, in conjunction with 
other vessels she cruised along the coast from Boston to 
Charleston for the purpose of enforcing the embargo laws. In 
January, 1807, he received his appointment as a lieutenant 
in the navy, and was ordered to the Wasp, then at the Wash- 
ington navy yard. On the last day of March, 1809, Mac- 
donough was ordered to the frigate Essex and in September 
of the same year was given charge of the gunboats in Con- 
necticut and Rhode Island. Returning to Washington 
under orders dated April, 1810, he was granted a furlough 
of several months that he might make a voyage to the East 
Indies, but in May he was ordered to the Chesapeake for a 
period of twelve days, after which he resumed his furlough. 
Another furlough was granted him in October, 181 1; and 
July 17th of the following year he was ordered to the Con- 
stitution, leaving that ship a month later to take command 
of the vessels at Portland, Maine, and going from that 
point to Lake Champlain. 

In the fall of 181 1 there occurred an incident between 
the Secretary of the Navy, Paul Hamilton, and Macdon- 
ough which led the latter to suggest the presentation of his 
resignation. The matter was satisfactorily arranged, how- 
•^ver, and the request of Macdonough for another furlough, 
which was the cause of the difference, was granted by the 
Department. In reply to Macdonough's letter stating that 
he would feel compelled to resign unless his request was 
favored, he was informed that in consideration of his good 
standing his request would be granted. 



COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. 13 

Although this was a period of peace during which Mac- 
donough was occupied with the ordinary duties of a sailor's 
life, it was not without adventure. One of these occurred 
soon after he was furloughed in May, 1810, and ordered to 
make a voyage in the merchant service. As captain of the 
merchant brig Gulliver he sailed from New York for Liver- 
pool, and later to Calcutta. On the evening of the day be- 
fore the brig was to leave Liverpool, Macdonough, who had 
been on shore, was returning to the wharf to proceed to his 
ship, when he was accosted by a man who asked if he be- 
longed to any ship in the harbor. On his replying that he 
belonged to the brig Gulliver, he was seized by several men 
and taken to a British frigate, enrolled on the purser's list, 
given a hammock and ordered forward, no attention being 
paid to his assertion that he was not only an American but 
an officer in the navy. Lying in his hammock he made 
plans for his escape, and when the corporal of the guard 
had entered and gone to sleep in an adjoining hammock, 
jMacdonough dressed himself in the corporal's uniform and 
walked boldly on deck. Saluting the officer of the deck he 
asked permission to examine the second cutter alongside, in 
which he said he suspected there was rum concealed. Not 
being recognized, permission was readily given, but as Mac- 
donough passed the forward hatch he saw the real corporal's 
head coming up. With a blow of his fist he sent the cor- 
poral to the bottom of the ladder and quickly swung himself 
into the cutter and severed the rope. The strong current 
soon carried the boat off and in spite of pursuit Macdon- 
ough reached the shore and joined his own ship. At this 
time he is reported to have said : "If I live, I'll make Eng- 
land remember the day she impressed an American sailor." 



14 THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

It is related that while the squadron was at Syracuse 
the officers and men were often set upon by ruffians and 
that on one occasion Decatur and Midshipman Macdon- 
ough, while passing down one of the streets of the city at 
night were attacked by three men. Drawing their swords 
they defended themselves so successfully that the men were 
driven off, and Macdonough pursued one of them to the 
top of a house, from which the man jumped to the ground 
and perished from the fall. 

In 1806, while first lieutenant of the Siren, then lying 
in the harbor at Gibraltar, Macdonough, in the absence of 
the captain, who was on shore, rescued an American sea- 
man who had been impressed by the crew of a British frig- 
ate from one of the merchantmen in the harbor. Hearing 
of the incident Macdonough ordered his gig to be manned 
and armed and pursued the boat of the press gang, rescu- 
ing the seaman from alongside the British frigate. The cap- 
tain of the frigate went on board the Siren in a great pas- 
sion and demanded of Macdonough how he dared take a 
man from one of his majesty's boats. He then threatened 
to bring his frigate alongside the Siren and retake the man 
by force. Macdonough replied that he supposed the frigate 
could sink the Siren, but so long as she could swim he 
would keep the man. The British made a demonstration 
as though they would board the Siren, but the prompt prep- 
arations by Macdonough induced them to give up the at- 
tempt. Macdonough was at this time about twenty-three 
years of age. 

On September 12, 1812, Macdonough, then stationed at 
Portland, Maine, was ordered to take command of the ves- 
sels on Lake Champlain. He made the journey across the 



COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. 15 

country on horseback, carrying only a bundle and a valise, 
and attended only by a country boy who returned with his 
horse. He reached Burlington at the end of four days' 
journey and took command of the fleet, which consisted of 
two sloops, the Eagle and Growler, and two or three small 
galleys. There were two other sloops on the lake known 
as the President and Montgomery, which have sometimes 
been included in Alacdonough's fleet. They were, however, 
in no naval engagement and are not mentioned in any of 
INIacdonough's correspondence. After he first arrived at the 
lake they seem to have dropped out of all account. From 
a studv of the records of the War and Navy Departments 
the history of the two vessels may be explained as follows : 
Prior to Macdonough's assuming command of the fleet all 
government vessels on the lake were under command of 
General Dearborn of the army. At that time the sloop Pres- 
ident was included in the fleet. Under date of September 
12, 1812. the Secretary of War wrote to General Dearborn 
that a naval officer by the name of Macdonough had been 
ordered to take command of the flotilla on the lake, and 
October i6th following, General Dearborn replied main- 
taining that there should be but one commander on the lake 
and that he should be under the War Department. He pro- 
tested against a naval officer being placed in command and 
suggested an appeal to the President. He further wrote, 
however, that he had so far complied with the order of the 
Secretary of War as to turn over two of the vessels, but 
would not turn over the other unless Macdonough and the 
whole fleet were placed under his command. It is probable 
that when General Dearborn turned over the Eagle and the 
Grozvler he did not turn over the third vessel, which he 



16 THE VEKMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Stated he would not do unless compelled to. The third ves- 
sel, which is referred to as the President, probably continued 
in the service of the War Department. During the next 
year, 1813, the War Department purchased the Montgom- 
ery, which with the President, was doubtless used and main- 
tained by the army for conveying troops and supplies up and 
down the lake. Niles's Register, the best authority on naval 
matters of the time, while including the President and Mont- 
gomery in Macdonough's fleet, states that the President 
was purchased by the War Department in 1812 and the 
Montgomery in 1813; that they were not in the naval en- 
gagement on the lake, and were sold in 181 5. The War 
Department is not mentioned by Niles as having any con- 
nection with any other vessel in Macdonough's fleet and 
while Macdonough commanded the entire naval flotilla upon 
the lake, these two vessels, the President and Montgomery, 
were retained and used exclusively in the service of the 
War Department and were at no time any part of Macdon- 
ough's fleet. 

Upon his arrival at the lake Macdonough commenced 
at once to collect men, ammunition and supplies, but dur- 
ing the fall of 1812 and summer of 1813 little was accom- 
plished. The British continued to control the north end of 
the lake and during the summer of 181 3 Macdonough sent 
the Bagle and Grozvler under Lieutenant Sidney Smith to 
drive the enemy down the lake. The British retired and 
Smith, following rashly, struck a rapid current in shoal 
water, grounded and lost both vessels to the enemy. Thus 
at the close of 181 3 the British were virtually in command 
of the lake. 

The fall of Napoleon Bonaparte in April, 18 14, had 
relieved England from her struggle with France and left her 



COMMODORE MACDONODGH. 17 

free to pursue the war in America. She organized a large 
force in Canada for the purpose of driving the Americans 
from the lake and surrounding country, with the intention 
of making connections with New York by way of the Hud- 
son River, with a view to cutting off New England from 
the other States. The forces on land were commanded by 
Sir George Prevost and on the lake by Captain George 
Downie. 

^lacdonough had purchased a sloop from the lake ser- 
vice known as the Rising Siiii and rechristened her the 
Preble. He also purchased a steamboat, probably the one 
known as the Verinont, and rechristened her the Ticoiidcr- 
oga. This is the first case in which steam power was ap- 
plied to a naval vessel, but as her engines were constantly 
breaking down. jMacdonough soon determined to take out 
the machinery and refit her as a schooner. 

Hearing of the intended invasion, jNIacdonough re- 
paired to Vergennes, about seven miles up the Otter Creek, 
to overhaul the Ticonderoga and Preble and to build a ship 
and some large galleys. Vergennes for those times was 
something of a centre of industry. There were several saw- 
mills, a grist-mill, a slitting-mill, a shop for making nails, 
a steel foundry and several forges. One foundry alone had 
nine fires. Iron ore was mined at Monkton, a town near by, 
and large tracts of timber land were easily available. At 
one of the foundries one hundred and twenty-seven tons of 
cannon shot were cast for the fleet. 

The winter was well advanced before any considerable 
work was done on the vessels, but early in the spring the 
woods and valleys around rang with the sound of axe and 
hammer. In a letter written by Daniel Wright in 1835 he 



18 THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

states that in March, 1814, he was called into the service of 
the United States to aid in forwarding timber to the ship- 
yard at Vergennes to build three large vessels for the lake 
and several gunboats. Fifty men were sent to his house to 
be boarded while they were cutting timber. He labored 
with them with a team of his own. The order to procure 
and forward the timber was executed in five and a half days 
by one hundred and ten men. 

The three vessels referred to in this letter must have 
been the Ticonderoga, the Preble and Saratoga. The trees 
out of which the Saratoga was built were standing in the 
forest forty days previous to her being launched. 

May 14, 1 81 3, before Macdonough had got his fleet 
out of the creek, the British sent a sloop and sixteen galleys 
to destroy it as it lay at anchor. They attacked the battery 
at the mouth of the creek, but Macdonough, with what ves- 
sels he had afloat, dropped down the creek and put the 
enemy to flight. Local historians maintain that this en- 
gagement is entitled to more serious consideration than has 
been given it in history. 

In July following Macdonough learned that the British 
had laid the keel of a new frigate at the lower end of the 
lake. He again commenced preparations for building and 
the country around Vergennes was again enlivened by his 
work upon a new brig. The keel was laid on July 29th, and 
she was launched on August i6th, nineteen days after the 
laying of the keel, including Sundays. This brig was also 
named the Eagle and was substantially of the same size as 
Perry's flagships Lamrence and Niagara on Lake Erie, while 
the Saratoga was much superior to Perry's largest vessel. 
The time in which Perry built his ships has often been men- 



COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. 19 

tioned in praise and wonder, but Macdonough's ships were 
not only of larger tonnage but were built and completed in 
a shorter time. 

When Macdonough had completed his brig he crossed 
the lake and took up his position in Plattsburgh Bay. His 
fleet then consisted of the Eagle, the Ticonderoga, and the 
Preble, with four small and six large galleys. He reasoned 
that the British would not venture to pass up the lake and 
leave his fleet to harass them in the rear, and determined to 
anchor his vessels, await the attack of the British and fight 
his ships at anchor. Captain Downie's fleet slightly sur- 
passed that of Macdonough in number, tonnage, battery and 
men. 

Spear, in "The History of Our Navy," says "the two 
leading British ships had as great a weight of metal in long 
guns as the whole Yankee squadron, gunboats and all." 

Cooper, in his Naval History, says : "The force of the 
enemy was materially greater than that of the Americans." 

Mr. Roosevelt, in his Naval War of 1812, has made a 
careful and detailed analysis of the strength of the respect- 
ive forces, as follows : 



macdonough's force. 

Name. Tons. 1 

Saratoga 734 

Eagle 500 

Ticonderoga 350 

Preble 80 

Six gun-boats 420 

Four gun-boats 160 



I^rew 


Broadside, 




lbs. 


240 

150 
112 


414 
264 
180 


30 
246 
104 


36 
252 

48 



20 THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

DOWNIE'S SQUADRON. 

Confiance 1200 325 480 

Linnet 350 125 96 

Chubb 112 50 96 

Finch no 50 84 

Five gun-boats 350 205 254 

Seven gun-boats 280 182 182 

Macdonough's Force. — Fourteen vessels of 2.244 tons 
and 882 men, with 86 guns throwing a broadside of 1,194 
pounds of shot, 480 pounds from long and 714 from short 
guns. 

Downie's Squadron. — Sixteen vessels of about 2,402 
tons, with 937 men, and a total of 92 guns, throwing a broad- 
side of 1,192 pounds, 660 from long and 532 from short 
pieces. 

To understand fully the consummate skill with which 
Macdonough placed his fleet it is necessary to explain that 
the lake is a narrow body of water, running, unlike most of 
the waters of the United States, from the south toward the 
north. Such is its shape and that of the mountains about 
it that the wind commonly blows either directly up or down 
the lake. 

Much credit has always been given to the manner in 
which Macdonough anchored his ships. The histories of 
the battle invariably speak of his having anchored with 
"springs," but never explain what is meant by anchoring 
with a spring. The purpose of anchoring with a spring is 
to enable the ship to be turned while lying at anchor, but as 
this is purely a nautical term it is necessary to explain at 
some length just how this is accomplished. If a string be 
attached to a float in a running stream the float will bring 
up with the end to which the string is attached pointing up 



COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. 31 

stream. In a like manner if an anchor is thrown out from 
the prow or stern of a ship the ship will bring up with the 
stem or prow to which the anchor is attached facing up the 
current, or into the wind if the sails are set and that is the 
controlling force. If after the ship is so brought up a sec- 
ond anchor is dropped from the stern or other end of the 
ship, and the first anchor is raised, the ship will immediately 
turn about and the stern, to which the second anchor is at- 
tached, will face up the current or into the wind as the case 
may be. If a line is carried from a ship swinging at anchor 
to some fixed object on shore or at some distance from the 
side of the ship and the line pulled in, the ship will swing 
around or be drawn toward the object to which the line is 
attached. To accomplish this small anchors, known as 
'"kedge" anchors are frequently carried out in boats from the 
ship and dropped at some distance. Lines may also be car- 
ried from the main anchor chains to different parts of the 
ship for the same purpose. This is what is meant by an- 
choring with a spring. 

Macdonough availed himself of all these expedients. 
He dropped an anchor from the bow, another from the 
stern ; he attached lines to the anchor chains, and he also 
carried out kedge anchors to either side of the ship and in 
this manner by raising or letting go on one anchor and pull- 
ing in on different lines he was able to turn and manoeuver 
his ships. 

The American fleet was formed in a double line of bat- 
tle across the entrance to Plattsburg Bay from Cumberland 
Head toward Crab Island. In the outer line were the Eagle, 
Saratoga, Ticondcroga and Preble, in order named from 
Cumberland Head southward, while the gunboats made up 



22 THE 7EKM0NT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

the inner line. The British Hne from the north southward 
was as follows : Chubb, Linnet, Coniiance and Finch, with 
the gunboats between the two latter vessels and extending 
the line. By this formation Macdonough prevented Dow- 
nie's ships from passing around his line of battle on account 
of shoal water at the ends of the line and in addition the 
British commander was unable to draW; out his full line 
unless he did so outside the bay. 

At a little past eight on a beautiful Sunday morning, 
September ii, 1814, the British hove around Cumberland 
Head. Macdonough knelt in prayer on the deck and await- 
ed the enemy. When the Confiance had come into full view 
Downie hove to for the purpose of allowing his gunboats to 
come up. He then ordered them to attack the southern end 
of the American line, and while the Chubb and Linnet at- 
tempted to turn the northerly end of the line, he proceeded 
to attack the Saratoga and Ticonderoga with his own ship 
and the Finch. Macdonough waited until the Confiance 
came within range and then fired the first gun himself. The 
twenty-four pound shot raked the deck of the Confiance, 
killing and wounding several men and carrying away her 
wheel. This w,as the signal for general firing on the part 
of the Americans. The Confiance held her fire until within 
a short distance of the Saratoga and then discharged a 
broadside with terrific effect, killing and wounding nearly 
forty men. The battle thereupon became general and was 
waged with great fierceness all along the line. Macdonough 
himself was twice knocked down, once by a falling spar and 
again by being struck with the head of one of his men which 
had been severed by a cannon ball and hurled against him 
with great force. The Finch, being disabled by the Ticon- 



COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. '23 

deroga early in the engagement, drifted down toward Crab 
Island, where she was fired upon by a shore battery manned 
by invahds and surrendered. The Eagle had her springs 
shot away and drifted down to the west side of the hne, 
which enabled the Linnet to turn the American line at the 
north. Nearly all the guns of the Saratoga and many on 
the Coiifiancc were rendered useless. In this situation the 
forethought of INIacdonough in setting springs enabled him 
to swing his ship around and bring his fresh port battery 
into action. The British commander tried the same ma- 
noeuver, but failed to accomplish his purpose. Macdon- 
ough's expedient turned the battle in his favor and at the 
end of two hours and thirty minutes the British struck, and 
Macdonough had enrolled his name among the greatest of 
American naval heroes. 

While the naval engagement was going on General Pre- 
vost engaged the forces on shore, but learning of the dis- 
aster to the British fleet, withdrew in disorder, leaving the 
American forces in undisputed possession of the northern 
border. Macdonough's victory was the beginning of the end 
of the war and contributed much in securing favorable nego- 
tiations for peace. 

]vluch has been said about the manner in which the 
American land forces, two thousand in number, repulsed the 
British army, fourteen thousand in number, at Plattsburg. 
But it must be remembered that the British expedition, as 
well land as naval, had for its object the seizure of Crown 
Point and the opening of communication from the upper end 
of the lake to the Hudson River. It therefore became nec- 
essary that the British should gain the mastery of the lake 
in order to make the expedition successful, either with re- 



24 THE VERMONT HISTOEICAL SOCIETY. 

spect to land or naval forces. While the American forces 
on land were holding their position against the British dur- 
ing the engagement on the water, it is hardly to be supposed 
that the two thousand militia would have long endured 
against the fourteen thousand British regulars, had the naval 
engagement terminated in favor of the British. All honor 
is, therefore, due to Macdonough in the engagement, for the 
victory upon land as well as water. Nor can too much be 
said in praise of his plan of battle or its execution. 

His victory was due to three distinguishing causes. 
First, Cumberland Head juts out from the New York shore 
toward the east and south, forming Plattsburg Bay. Across 
this bay from Cumberland Head toward Crab Island Mac- 
donough placed his fleet, knowing that the British would not 
dare pass up the lake leaving him to harass their rear. He 
thereby compelled the British to tack around Cumberland 
Head and attack his fleet, bows on, thus exposing themselves 
to a raking fire from Macdonough's broadsides. By so 
doing Macdonough accomplished what rarely occurs in a sea 
fight, namely, chose his own position and forced the enemy 
to attack him to the enemy's greatest disadvantage. In 
short he forced the enemy to attack him where he chose and 
as he chose. 

The second cause was his superior seamanship in the 
manner in whch he set his springs, as before described, and 
the ability with which he afterward manoeuvered or winded 
his ships. 

The third cause of victory lay in the superiority of his 
marksmanship and the valor and persistence with which his 
ships were fought. The ships of either side were not in- 
ferior in size or armament to the majority of the deep sea 



COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. 35 

men-of-wars-mcn of the time. Macdonough's flag ship and 
the British flagship, the Confiance, were each somewhat 
smaller than the Constitution, but they were larger than the 
Peacock, IVasp, Hornet, Intrepid, Boxer, Enterprise, Bonne 
Houune Richard and all other famous ships of the navy up 
to that time, save the Constitution, the President and their 
class. Both the Saratoga and the Ticonderoga were larger 
than the flagships Niagara and Laivrence of Perry's fleet,, or 
any of the other ships on either side of the Lake Erie battle. 
Each of the fleets on Lake Champlain were somewhat larger 
than either of the fleets on Lake Erie. Perry's gallant con- 
duct in battle, the transfer of his flag from the Lawrence 
to the Niagara after the former was disabled, his famous 
dispatch to General Harrison, "We have met the enemy and 
they are ours," have made his name famous. But Perry's 
force exceeded the British in ships, men, tonnage and metal, 
while the British force on Lake Champlain exceeded Mac- 
donough's in the same particulars. In fact Macdonough alone 
among all the American commanders is distinguished in 
having commanded the only smaller fleet that ever defeated 
a larger one. 

This comparison with the battle of Lake Erie is not 
made for the purpose of detracting anything from the glory 
of that battle, for which all honor is due, but because the 
battles of Lake Champlain and Lake Erie perhaps more 
closely resemble each other than any others in American his- 
tory. Great as was the battle of Lake Erie, the battle of 
Lake Champlain was greater. Nor does history furnish 
many examples of greater severity, for the American loss 
numbered 104 killed and 116 wounded, and the British 168 
killed and 220 wounded, Captain Downie of the British fleet 



26 THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

being among the killed. When the battle ceased hardly a 
mast was standing in either fleet and an old sailor who had 
been with Nelson at Trafalgar declared that that was "but a 
flea bite to this." 

Mr. Roosevelt in his Naval War of 1812 says : 

"Captain Perry's name is more widely known than that 
of any other commander. Every school boy reads about 
him, if of no other sea captain ; yet he certainly stands on a 
lower grade than Macdonough." And again, "But it will 
always be a source of surprise that the American public 
should have so glorified Perry's victory over an inferior 
force, and have paid comparatively little attention to Alac- 
donough's victory which was really won against decided 
odds in ships, men and metal." 

Macdonough was commissioned a master-commandant 
on July 24, 181 3, and on November 30, 1814, he was ap- 
pointed a captain in the navy, to rank from September 11, 
1814. He was always spoken of as "Commodore" because 
he commanded a fleet. 

The Legislature of Vermont passed a resolution of 
thanks for his "unrivalled bravery and important service in 
the conquest of a British squadron of a superior force on 
the nth of September, 1814, which protected the soil of free- 
men, gained the applause of millions., and merited universal 
respect and admiration." Vermont also purchased and con- 
veyed to him a tract of land lying on Cumberland Head, 
overlooking the scene of the battle. New York State by 
letters patent granted him one thousand acres of land in the 
town of Sterling, county of Cayuga. The State of Dela- 
ware gave him an elegant sword and a service of plate. 
while Congress caused a gold medal to be struck and pre- 



COMMODORE MACDONODGH. 27 

sented to him, emblematic of the action between the two 
squadrons. 

On December 12, 1812, Macdonough married Lucy 
Ann, daughter of Nathaniel Shaler, of Middletown, Conn., 
by whom he had nine children, and thereafter his home was 
at Aliddletown. 

Several months following the victory of Lake Cham- 
plain were spent by Macdonough in making disposition of 
the ships and stores left on the lake, and it is not until 
May 23, 1815, that orders are found assigning him to other 
duty. On this date he was directed to proceed to Ports- 
mouth, New Hampshire, to take command of the navy 
yard and have charge of the equipment of the WasJiijigton, 
the latter duty to terminate upon the arrival of Commodore 
Chauncey. In November, 1816, he was again ordered to 
Lake Champlain to serve as one of a board of commis- 
sioners to be formed at Plattsburgh, New York, to deter- 
mine the proper sites for fortifications contemplated on 
the lake. In April, 1818, he was ordered from Portsmouth, 
New Hampshire, to Boston to take command and have 
charge of the preparation for sea of the U. S. S. frigate 
Gnerricre, which had been selected to convey to St. 
Petersburg our new minister plenipotentiary to Russia, 
Hon. G. W. Campbell. This command was evidently looked 
upon as of considerable importance, for Commodore Mac- 
donough was directed to "give every effect which shall add 
to the dignity of the mission to one of the greatest powers 
in Europe." 

After Macdonough left Russia to join the IMediterran- 
ean squadron the most unpleasant incident in his naval ser- 
vice occurred. A marine named Robert Sloane assaulted 



38 THE VERMONT HISTOEICAL SOCIETY. 

one of the officers with a bayonet, and under the law that 
obtained then as now, the commander-in-chief of a fleet on 
a foreign station was authorized to convene a court martial 
for his trial, pursuant to which Commodore Stewart con- 
vened a court, of which Macdonough was president, for 
such trial on board the Guerriere. When the evidence had 
been submitted and the court had found the man guilty it 
adjourned to meet at a tavern in the city of Naples. The 
adjournment to that place was made for the purpose of mak- 
ing and correcting the record on account of the illness of the 
judge advocate of the court, who was stopping at the tavern. 
The court met pursuant to such adjournment, and after cor- 
recting the record and signing it, forwarded it to the com- 
mander-in-chief, who, under the law, was the reviewing au- 
thority. Commodore Stewart in reviewing the case decided 
that the adjournment from the ship to the city of Naples, 
in foreign territory, was out of the jurisdiction of the court 
and that the proceedings were, therefore, null and void. He 
discharged the accused marine and notified the court of his 
decision. The court thereupon reconvened on board the 
Guerriere, and acting under the advice of the judge advo- 
cate, prepared a document of considerable length in turn 
reviewing the decision of Commodore Stewart. In their 
review: they passed such strictures upon Commodore Stew- 
art's judgment as to constitute a breach of military disci- 
pline. He reported it to Washington, recommending that the 
members of the court be sent to the United States under 
arrest to be further dealt with as the authorities at Wash- 
ington deemed best. The Secretary of the Navy, by direc- 
tion of the President, approved the recommendation of 
Commodore Stewart, and Macdonough and the other mem- 



COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. 29 

bers of the court were returned to the United States on 
board the U. S. S. Erie. After reaching home Macdon- 
ough took counsel with respect to the propriety of his acts, 
and becoming convinced that he had been in error, so wrote 
to the Secretary of the Navy, who repHed that his course was 
such as might be expected from an honorable and high- 
minded man, and that under this view of the subject, the 
President had authorized him to restore Alacdonough to the 
command of the Guemcrc, and the incident was closed. 

While this incident will always be regretted, the gravity 
of it was no more serious than a misunderstanding of his 
rights with respect to the law ; but the dignity and reserve 
with which he bore himself throughout the whole unfortun- 
ate affair, together with the magnanimity with which he ac- 
knowledged the error when discovered, must always accen- 
tuate rather than detract from the greatness of the man. 

On :^Iarch ii, 1820, Macdonough was ordered to the 
New York navv vard to have charge of the frigate "74," 
and subsequentlv was in command of the Washuigton at 
that vard and also of the Ohio, neither of which were at sea. 
He spent a portion of his time with his family at ^liddle- 
town Connecticut, until March 22, 1824, when upon his own 
application he was given command of the Constitution and 
sailed for the ^lediterranean from New York, October 29, 

1824. , , . , . 

Commodore ^lacdonough's health declined during his 

cruise in the Mediterranean and he was relieved of the com- 
mand of the Constitutton on October 14th, 1825. Accom- 
panied bv his physician he started for the United States m 
the brig Edzi'in, but died at sea November 10, 1825. The re- 
mains were landed at Philadelphia November 25th, and taken 



39 THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

to New York, where the funeral was one of the events of the 
time. The city passed resolutions of respect and citizens 
generally participated in the honors. The remains were 
brought from the navy yard on a barge under a canopy of 
the American flag, escorted by eight boats filled with officers 
and marines and were taken to the city hall. The funeral 
service was read at St. Paul's Church by Chaplain Cave 
Jones. The bearers were officers of the navy. Flags in the 
city and harbor were at half mast during the day, bells were 
tolled and minute guns fired. After the service the remains 
were escorted to the steamboat Commerce, on which they 
were conveyed to Middletown, Connecticut, for burial. The 
procession included a detachment of horse artillery, a battal- 
ion of infantry, a detachment of U. S. marines, officers of 
the army and navy, the mayor and members of the city 
government, the Society of Cincinnati, of which the deceased 
was an honorary member, senators and members of the U. 
S. House of Representatives, judges of the courts of the 
United States and New York State, senators and members 
of the State Assembly, ministers and consuls and officers 
holding commissions from foreign courts and officials and 
citizens of New York. 

On the arrival of the remains at Middletown they were 
taken to his late home. The funeral was then held from the 
Presbyterian Church, attended by judges of the Supreme 
Court, the military, the officers of the army and navy, the 
Masons and a large body of citizens. The cadets of the 
Military Academy conducted by Captain Alden Partridge, 
former surveyor general of Vermont, acted as a military es- 
cort for the remains and fired three volleys over the grave. 
jNIinute guns were also fired from the academy grounds at 



COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. 31 

the time of the funeral and flasks in the city and harbor were 
floated at half mast. 

The family monument is of plain white marble and 
bears this epitaph : 

''Sacred to the memory of Com. Thomas Macdon- 
ough of the U. S. Navy. He was born in the State of Dela- 
ware. December, 1783, & died at sea of pulmonary consump- 
tion, while on his return from the command of the Ameri- 
can squadron in the Mediterranean, on the loth November, 
1825. lie was distinguished in the world as the hero of 
Lake Champlain, in the Church of Christ as a faithful, zeal- 
ens, consistent Christian, in the community where he resided 
when absent from professional duty as an amiable, upright 
and valuable citizen." 

And so at a little less than forty-two years of age, a 
brilliant career was closed. 

Macdonough was a tall, spare, dignified man. His 
complexion, eyes and hair were light. His face was full and 
regular. His countenance frank, open, refined and intel- 
lectual. His mouth and chin were not large, but indicated 
decision of character. His nose may be described as tend- 
ing toward the Roman type, his eyes bright and penetrating, 
but kindly, his forehead high, his hair abundant. He may 
well have been called a handsome man. 

Until broken by disease he was straight, vigorous and 
athletic. He was of a slightly nervous temperament, but 
liad schooled himself to a rigorous self-control. In youth 
he is said to have been sufficiently fond of pranks, but early 
care and responsibility subdued his spirit, and while yet 
young he leaned rather toward seriousness. He was an all- 
around sailor of the old man-of-wars-man type, when self 



32 THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

reliance and resourcefulness in the hour of trial gained the 
victory. He was quick to discern the critical moment and 
act with decision. 

Men are sometimes deemed brilliant because their 
opinions are quickly formed, but conjecture is not to be con- 
founded with logical reasoning, nor impressions with delib- 
erate judgment. The correctness of the conclusion is the 
test of the mental operation, and in this Macdonough was 
unerring. He commanded rather by his example and the 
force of his character than by virtue of his rank. 

In the battle which made his name famous he fired the 
first gun with his own hand and was twice knocked senseless 
on the deck, and when the report ran through the ship that 
the Commodore was dead, the crew paused dismayed in the 
midst of the battle. No higher testimonial of his bravery can 
be written than that in the most thrilling events of his time 
he walked side by side with the gallant Decatur. Although 
the ravages of disease had wasted his body to sixty pounds, 
t<yh.\s fortitude he retained command of the Constitution to 
within twenty-seven days of his death. 

The war of 1812 was fought by the American sailor for 
the maintenance of free ships and sailors' rights. The coun- 
try's cause was the sailors' cause. It was a struggle to re- 
dress wrongs which had been seared upon the memory. 
Through it all Macdonough remained calm and self-pos- 
sessed, spoke no hasty word, did no unwise act. Upright 
and independent himself, he abhorred oppression ; loyal to 
his country and fearless in battle, he was charitable to the 
vanquished and pitied the suffering. 

While Captain Pring of the British sloop Linnet was a 
prisoner he testified : 'T have much satisfaction in making 



COMMODORE MACDONOUGH. 33 

you acquainted with the humane treatment the wounded have 
received from Commodore Macdonough. His generous and 
polite attention to myself, the officers and men, will ever be 
gratefully remembered." 

Macdonough was loved by his officers and men, popu- 
lar with those who knew him, respected by all. He enjoyed 
society and was free and courteous with his friends. 

To his brother's widow left in narrow circumstances he 
tendered pecuniary aid. saying that his religion made him 
the widow's friend. 

His character was devout and religious. He spoke of 
his escape from the fate of his companions on the Phila- 
delphia as "providential." On the morning of the great bat- 
tle he prayed with his men as he saw the enemy approaching 
and remarked that, "they are superior to us in force, but, 
by the blessing of God, we can beat them." When asked 
how he escaped when so many around him fell, he replied. 
])ointing to heaven : "There is a power above which deter- 
mines the fate of men." In reporting the battle to the Navy 
Department he declared that. "The Almighty has been 
])leased to grant us a signal victory." 

He added distinction to his service, glory to his coun- 
trv, lustre to his flag and nobility to mankind. 



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